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Primarily residential. but I need the approval to run a home based business out of it, (part of the reason for needing to search by sf) I need storage
If your business is going to require storage of large items and will generate traffic other than a normal UPS or Fed Ex delivery, or if customers will come to your home, then you need to be careful about HOA's.
Most HOA's don't allow home based businesses that generate extra traffic.
Working from a home office, or having an eBay business that is virtually invisible is accepted.
You probably know all this, but I thought I would mention it anyway.
If your business is going to require storage of large items and will generate traffic other than a normal UPS or Fed Ex delivery, or if customers will come to your home, then you need to be careful about HOA's.
Most HOA's don't allow home based businesses that generate extra traffic.
Working from a home office, or having an eBay business that is virtually invisible is accepted.
You probably know all this, but I thought I would mention it anyway.
Bill
Yes, I have an offer pending on a property in a gated community, first question I made was to the HOA and asked about running a shop from home. Luckily I dont get customers coming to my door, but I do generate quite a bit of traffic, UPS, Fedex etc.. Occasionally 18 wheelers.. but thats becoming rarer every day.. (thank god.. )
Got smart this time and looked for a property with room to expand and add on garage/warehouse. Waiting for pre-approval for construction prior to my closing to make sure there wont be issues.
Yes, I have an offer pending on a property in a gated community, first question I made was to the HOA and asked about running a shop from home. Luckily I dont get customers coming to my door, but I do generate quite a bit of traffic, UPS, Fedex etc.. Occasionally 18 wheelers.. but thats becoming rarer every day.. (thank god.. )
Got smart this time and looked for a property with room to expand and add on garage/warehouse. Waiting for pre-approval for construction prior to my closing to make sure there wont be issues.
I would suggest getting something in writing from the HOA addressing your specific circumstance. Some HOAs in a gated community would have a problem with 18 wheelers making business deliveries. Some HOAs may also have a problem with using your garage for a warehouse and having to park your car(s) outside.
I would suggest getting something in writing from the HOA addressing your specific circumstance. Some HOAs in a gated community would have a problem with 18 wheelers making business deliveries. Some HOAs may also have a problem with using your garage for a warehouse and having to park your car(s) outside.
Yeah, I'm waiting for copies of the agreement from them to be reviewed by my lawyer. I'd hate to buy a place and then run into problems with running my business.
Yes, I have an offer pending on a property in a gated community, first question I made was to the HOA and asked about running a shop from home. Luckily I dont get customers coming to my door, but I do generate quite a bit of traffic, UPS, Fedex etc.. Occasionally 18 wheelers.. but thats becoming rarer every day.. (thank god.. )
Got smart this time and looked for a property with room to expand and add on garage/warehouse. Waiting for pre-approval for construction prior to my closing to make sure there wont be issues.
From what you're writing, I think you're going to have problems so I'll give you a little more information to consider.
I'm on the board of my subdivision HOA and on the Val Vista Lakes master HOA board, so I'm giving you advice from an experience background. These are two highly professional run boards, and I'm going to assume that the board(s) of your HOA are of the same caliber so you will be able to get the information you need right away.
Generating extra traffic is one of the big issues for gated communities. One issue is that the roads are private and the community has to pay for them, so the more traffic one generates, the sooner the asphalt roads will need repair/replacement. Another issue is the gates are to reduce the flow of traffic to provide more quite and privacy.
In our community there is no parking on the streets. If you have a 3 car garage, you must leave two bays open for cars. If a two car garage, one bay must be used for cars. Of course one can have his garage full of storage as long as they park in their driveway and not on the street. The reason for the rule is so that people don't fill their garage with stuff and then have 4 cars where only 2 fit in the driveway and they feel that they now must be allowed to park in the street.
The home operated businesses like realtors, small eBay sellers, and others are fine because they are invisible. No one knows they are there unless they're told. I know an eBay seller and he gets a UPS or FedEx delivery about once a week, and each day he drives his car to the post office or to FedEx to drop off his deliveries. He loads his car while it's in the garage. He's completely invisible. That also gives him some security because only a few people know that he has product in his garage that thieves may be interested in.
But when you talk about warehousing, and adding on for more warehousing, and 18 wheelers, you aren't talking about invisible.
You're taking your CC&R's to your attorney, but your attorney's opinion may differ from the HOA attorney interpretation of the rules. So if your attorney tells you this is ok, and you go in expecting no problems, you may be surprised to find the HOA has that different opinion.
I strongly suggest that you talk to the property manager of the HOA, and ask to attend a board meeting to present your situation. If the next board meeting is too far out, ask if you can speak with the president so you can discuss the situation to see if you will be in compliance.
Be prepared to be very up front and disclose a true picture of your operation so there will be no surprises later on by either side. If they agree then you'll be fine. If they don't then you need to find another solution.
I would not just take the advice of an outside attorney and go in expecting that will work, because if your attorney's opinion is different, the HOA will not accept it and you'll have serious problems.
From what you're writing, I think you're going to have problems so I'll give you a little more information to consider.
I'm on the board of my subdivision HOA and on the Val Vista Lakes master HOA board, so I'm giving you advice from an experience background. These are two highly professional run boards, and I'm going to assume that the board(s) of your HOA are of the same caliber so you will be able to get the information you need right away.
Generating extra traffic is one of the big issues for gated communities. One issue is that the roads are private and the community has to pay for them, so the more traffic one generates, the sooner the asphalt roads will need repair/replacement. Another issue is the gates are to reduce the flow of traffic to provide more quite and privacy.
In our community there is no parking on the streets. If you have a 3 car garage, you must leave two bays open for cars. If a two car garage, one bay must be used for cars. Of course one can have his garage full of storage as long as they park in their driveway and not on the street. The reason for the rule is so that people don't fill their garage with stuff and then have 4 cars where only 2 fit in the driveway and they feel that they now must be allowed to park in the street.
The home operated businesses like realtors, small eBay sellers, and others are fine because they are invisible. No one knows they are there unless they're told. I know an eBay seller and he gets a UPS or FedEx delivery about once a week, and each day he drives his car to the post office or to FedEx to drop off his deliveries. He loads his car while it's in the garage. He's completely invisible. That also gives him some security because only a few people know that he has product in his garage that thieves may be interested in.
But when you talk about warehousing, and adding on for more warehousing, and 18 wheelers, you aren't talking about invisible.
You're taking your CC&R's to your attorney, but your attorney's opinion may differ from the HOA attorney interpretation of the rules. So if your attorney tells you this is ok, and you go in expecting no problems, you may be surprised to find the HOA has that different opinion.
I strongly suggest that you talk to the property manager of the HOA, and ask to attend a board meeting to present your situation. If the next board meeting is too far out, ask if you can speak with the president so you can discuss the situation to see if you will be in compliance.
Be prepared to be very up front and disclose a true picture of your operation so there will be no surprises later on by either side. If they agree then you'll be fine. If they don't then you need to find another solution.
I would not just take the advice of an outside attorney and go in expecting that will work, because if your attorney's opinion is different, the HOA will not accept it and you'll have serious problems.
Good luck with the project,
Bill
I am awaiting the HOA preliminary approval for the adding of the warhouse, (which is nothing more then 4 additional garages)..
18 wheelers for me are really, really rare anymore, I used to get them every week but I've managed to get them down to about every 6 months, but I do understand what you'll saying. I managed to run my business out my current home for 3 years before my neighbors figured out that I wasnt just some bum who sat at home all day long..
I think I'm getting some leway because the property I'm looking at has been vacant for years, time will tell how things turn out..
thanks for the input
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